Cultural festivals require environments that can support many different forms of engagement while maintaining a consistent creative identity. In November 2018, the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development hosted the inaugural Al Burda Festival and Awards Show at Warehouse 421 and the NYU campus in Abu Dhabi.

The event brought together artists and visionaries from across the MENA region for knowledge sharing, interactive workshops, art exhibitions and an evening performance by international artists at the NYU main theatre.

Evolution Scenic provided technical design, structural development and scenic fabrication for the festival. The scope included scenic elements for the main stage, workshop spaces and art galleries, alongside a custom temporary structure for the main plenary and bespoke branded features throughout the event.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic developed detailed technical construction drawings and established the fabrication requirements necessary to transform the creative brief into buildable scenic elements.

Materials were selected according to the visual, structural and functional needs of each component. This ensured the fabricated elements achieved the required appearance while remaining suitable for their intended environments and uses.

For the main plenary, the team constructed a custom temporary event structure that combined structural performance with considered architectural detailing. Additional scenic elements were fabricated for the main stage, workshop spaces and art galleries, creating distinctive environments for the festival’s different programme areas.

Bespoke branded features, including signage and backdrops, were also produced to strengthen the festival’s identity and maintain visual consistency across the guest experience.

Delivery Highlights

• Technical design and structural development
• Detailed technical construction drawings
• Fabrication planning and material specification
• Scenic fabrication for the main stage
• Scenic environments for workshop spaces
• Fabricated elements for art galleries
• Custom temporary structure for the main plenary
• Bespoke branded features
• Event signage and backdrops
• Delivery across Warehouse 421 and the NYU campus
• Support for the inaugural Al Burda Festival and Awards Show

Outcome

The completed scenic installation supported the festival’s varied cultural programme while maintaining a cohesive visual identity across its principal environments.

Through detailed technical development, considered material selection and specialist fabrication, Evolution Scenic translated the creative brief into functional structures and scenic elements for the main stage, plenary, workshops and galleries.

The project demonstrated the team’s ability to deliver coordinated scenic environments for a multi-venue cultural event, combining structural requirements with the artistic standards expected of an internationally focused festival and awards programme.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Technical design, construction drawings, structural development, material selection, temporary structures, scenic fabrication, branded elements, signage and backdrops.

Donor recognition events require environments that celebrate individual contributions while communicating a wider sense of shared purpose. In March 2019, Sandooq Al Watan hosted Barzatkum at Qasr Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi to honour existing donors and encourage further contributions towards sustainable development through social responsibility.

Evolution Scenic created a sophisticated event environment centred on recognition, participation and storytelling. The scenic scope included the main stage setting, an intricate donor gallery, an interactive pledge tree, branded photography backdrops and event signage.

Each element was developed to support the programme while visually expressing the collective impact of Sandooq Al Watan’s donors and reinforcing the organisation’s vision for future initiatives.

The Challenge

The event environment needed to recognise existing donors, communicate Sandooq Al Watan’s achievements and encourage further philanthropic participation without losing the sense of occasion expected at an exclusive gathering.

The scenic elements also needed to perform different roles within one cohesive environment. The main stage had to provide an effective setting for speeches and presentations, while the donor gallery and pledge tree needed to transform donor recognition into meaningful visual installations.

Branding, symbolism and functionality therefore had to be carefully balanced across the stage, gallery, interactive feature and photography areas.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic designed and fabricated a refined main area featuring a scenic stage backdrop for speeches and presentations. The backdrop combined a strong visual presence with the functional requirements of the event programme.

A bespoke donor gallery was created using crystal raindrop pendants engraved with sponsor logos. Suspended as a collective installation, the individual pendants represented the combined impact of the donors while giving each contributor visible recognition within the event environment.

The team also created an interactive pledge tree with donor logos presented as leaves. Positioned as a central feature, the installation provided a visual expression of collective support and encouraged guests to make further pledges.

Custom photography backdrops and signage extended the event identity across additional guest-facing areas and created dedicated opportunities for branded event photography.

Delivery Highlights

• Scenic production for Barzatkum at Qasr Al Bahr
• Main event area and stage environment
• Scenic stage backdrop
• Setting for speeches and presentations
• Bespoke donor gallery
• Crystal raindrop pendants
• Sponsor logos engraved onto individual pendants
• Suspended donor-recognition installation
• Interactive pledge tree
• Donor logos displayed as leaves
• Custom photography backdrops
• Bespoke event signage
• Coordinated scenic and branding elements

Outcome

Barzatkum brought donors together within an environment designed to communicate recognition, sophistication and shared purpose.

The donor gallery transformed individual sponsor identities into a unified art installation, while the pledge tree encouraged continued participation through a clear and engaging visual concept. The main stage, photography areas and signage supported the event programme and maintained a consistent identity throughout the venue.

Through detailed fabrication and carefully considered symbolic features, Evolution Scenic created an event environment that celebrated existing contributions while supporting Sandooq Al Watan’s message of future philanthropic engagement.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Scenic development, stage backdrop fabrication, donor-gallery installation, engraved crystal pendants, interactive pledge tree, photography backdrops and event signage.

Compact event environments still require careful scenic coordination when branding, entertainment and guest-facing functions need to feel consistent. For Le Pear Societe Marketing LLC in Dubai, Evolution Scenic delivered a focused package of custom fabrication and branded event elements designed to strengthen the visual identity of the space.

The scope included a bespoke DJ counter, branded media wall, registration backdrop and stage skirting. Each component was developed to improve presentation, support event functionality and create a more polished overall environment.

The Challenge

The event required several distinct scenic elements to support entertainment, registration, media coverage and stage presentation within one consistent visual language.

The DJ area needed to function as a prominent entertainment focal point, while the media wall and registration backdrop had to provide clear branded moments for photography, guest arrival and event coverage.

The main stage also required a more refined finish, making stage skirting an important part of the wider scenic treatment.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic fabricated a custom DJ counter designed to provide a clean and professional focal point within the entertainment area.

A branded media wall was constructed and installed to create a strong visual background for photography, event coverage and guest interaction.

A dedicated registration backdrop was also produced, helping structure the arrival and check-in area while reinforcing the event identity from the first guest touchpoint.

Stage skirting was supplied and installed to improve the appearance of the main stage and create a more complete finish for presentations and performances.

By coordinating the individual components as one scenic package, Evolution Scenic created a visually consistent event environment across entertainment, registration, media and stage areas.

Delivery Highlights

• Custom scenic fabrication.
• Bespoke DJ counter.
• Professional entertainment focal point.
• Branded media wall.
• Photography and event coverage backdrop.
• Dedicated registration backdrop.
• Branded guest check-in area.
• Main stage skirting.
• Refined stage finish.
• Integrated event branding.
• Delivery and installation.

Outcome

The completed event setup provided a clear and cohesive visual identity across several important guest-facing areas.

The DJ counter established a strong entertainment feature, while the media wall and registration backdrop created dedicated branded environments for photography, coverage and arrivals. Stage skirting improved the presentation of the main stage and helped complete the overall event finish.

The project demonstrates Evolution Scenic’s ability to deliver focused scenic packages where branding, entertainment infrastructure and presentation details need to work together within a compact event environment.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – DJ counter fabrication, media wall construction, registration backdrop, stage skirting, event branding, delivery and installation.

Luxury cultural events demand environments where art, architecture, furniture and technical integration operate as one carefully controlled experience. For the eighth edition of Prada Mode in Downtown Dubai, Evolution Scenic delivered bespoke scenic and artistic elements for the two-day programme at ICD Brookfield Place.

Centred around Damien Hirst’s Pharmacy concept, the event combined contemporary art, music, dining and conversation within a highly curated setting. Evolution Scenic’s scope included a suspended DNA molecule, a custom central bar, bespoke furniture, a life-sized medical display cabinet, column and window treatments, and collaborative rigging coordination with FARO Studio lighting designers and VCA Projects.

The Challenge

Prada Mode required a scenic environment that could support a highly distinctive artistic concept while maintaining the level of refinement expected from an international luxury fashion house.

The suspended DNA molecule needed to achieve significant visual impact while remaining lightweight enough for overhead installation. Its form, material choice and internal weight distribution therefore had to be considered carefully.

The existing venue architecture also needed to be transformed without losing its premium character. Eight-metre-high circular columns, windows, furniture and bar elements all had to contribute to the wider Pharmacy-inspired visual language.

The ceiling conditions added another layer of complexity, requiring accurate scanning and close collaboration with the wider design and rigging teams to position suspended scenic and lighting elements safely.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic fabricated a large-scale Styrofoam DNA molecule as one of the principal visual features of the event.

The structure was engineered specifically for suspension, with material strength and weight distribution considered throughout the fabrication process so that the sculptural form could be installed safely while maintaining its intended scale.

A custom central bar was designed and built as a major functional feature within the space, supported by bespoke comfort furniture tailored to the luxury hospitality environment.

A life-sized medical display cabinet was also fabricated in response to Damien Hirst’s Pharmacy concept, creating a more literal connection between the scenic environment and the artistic narrative.

Eight-metre-high circular columns were wrapped with custom wallpaper to transform the venue architecture, while transparent vinyl graphics were applied to the windows to extend the visual treatment across the wider interior.

Ceiling scans were carried out to support the rigging strategy, with Evolution Scenic collaborating with FARO Studio lighting designers and VCA Projects to coordinate the suspended scenic and lighting installations accurately and safely.

Delivery Highlights

• Scenic fabrication for the eighth edition of Prada Mode.
• Two-day event at ICD Brookfield Place, Downtown Dubai.
• Damien Hirst Pharmacy-inspired environment.
• Large-scale suspended DNA molecule.
• Styrofoam sculptural fabrication.
• Engineered weight distribution for suspension.
• Custom central bar.
• Bespoke comfort furniture.
• Life-sized medical display cabinet.
• Eight-metre-high column transformations.
• Custom wallpaper application.
• Transparent vinyl window graphics.
• Ceiling scanning.
• Collaborative rigging coordination.
• Coordination with FARO Studio lighting designers.
• Coordination with VCA Projects.
• Luxury scenic finishing and installation.

Outcome

The completed Prada Mode environment transformed ICD Brookfield Place into a highly controlled art and hospitality setting aligned with the event’s luxury and avant-garde character.

The suspended DNA molecule created a strong sculptural focal point, while the central bar, medical display cabinet, bespoke furniture and architectural treatments extended the Pharmacy-inspired concept throughout the space.

The project demonstrates Evolution Scenic’s ability to deliver art-led event environments where sculptural fabrication, premium finishing, venue transformation and rigging coordination all need to work together at a high level of precision.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Sculptural scenic fabrication, suspended DNA molecule, central bar, bespoke furniture, medical display cabinet, column treatments, window graphics, ceiling scanning, rigging coordination, delivery and installation.

FARO Studio – Lighting design collaboration.

VCA Projects – Rigging and installation coordination.

Executive events require environments that can support formal programmes, brand engagement and high-level networking while maintaining a consistent standard across every guest area. For HSBC’s Circle of Excellence 2023, Evolution Scenic delivered bespoke scenic elements, sponsor activations and premium hospitality spaces at Dubai’s Museum of the Future.

Working with MCM Creative Global, the team created an integrated environment comprising exhibition areas, sponsor stands, a conference space, a VIP lounge with a virtual-reality experience and an executive networking lounge.

Sustainability and brand alignment informed the scenic approach, with environmentally considered materials and elements incorporated while maintaining the refined aesthetic required for a high-profile HSBC event.

The Challenge

The event included several spaces with distinct operational purposes. Exhibition and sponsor areas needed to communicate brand messages effectively, the conference environment needed to support the formal programme, and the VIP and executive lounges required a more exclusive hospitality experience.

These environments had to feel connected while responding to HSBC’s visual identity and sustainability objectives. The scenic design therefore needed to balance brand consistency, premium finishing, visitor engagement and environmental considerations.

The Museum of the Future also provided a distinctive architectural setting. Each installation needed to complement the venue while creating a recognisable event identity within it.

Delivery Highlights

• Scenic production for HSBC Circle of Excellence 2023
• Installation at the Museum of the Future
• Immersive exhibition environment
• Custom sponsor stands
• Sponsor activation spaces
• Conference environment
• Premium VIP lounge
• Dedicated virtual-reality experience
• Executive networking lounge
• Brand-aligned scenic design
• Environmentally considered materials
• High-quality scenic fabrication
• Detailed production planning
• On-site installation and management
• Collaboration with MCM Creative Global

Outcome

The completed environment brought HSBC’s Circle of Excellence programme together across its exhibition, conference, activation and hospitality spaces.

Sponsor stands supported brand engagement, while the VIP and executive lounges provided distinctive settings for immersive experiences and professional networking. Consistent scenic detailing connected the different areas and maintained the premium character of the event.

By integrating sustainability considerations with brand-led scenic production, Evolution Scenic delivered a polished environment suited to HSBC’s requirements and the architectural setting of the Museum of the Future.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Scenic design, exhibition environments, sponsor stands, activation spaces, VIP and executive lounges, sustainable material integration, fabrication, production planning and on-site management.

Opening ceremonies require scenic elements that operate at architectural scale while responding precisely to choreography, lighting and live performance.

For the Expo 2020 Opening Ceremony on 1 October 2021, Evolution Scenic produced six large-scale kinetic flower sculptures and a collection of engineered scenic features for the performance beneath the Al Wasl Dome.

The package included moving flowers with illuminated details, interactive six-metre performance poles, manually operated flower props, a motorised stage-reveal mechanism and a 12-metre-diameter rehearsal stage. Each element combined specialist fabrication with mechanical movement, technical integration and detailed testing.

The Challenge

The scenic features needed to remain visually effective against the immense scale of the Al Wasl Dome while integrating closely with performers and the ceremony’s choreography.

The six kinetic flowers required dependable movement and illumination without restricting their scenic appearance. Hydraulic mechanisms, fibre optics, LEDs, batteries and wireless controls needed to be integrated within the fabricated forms.

The performance poles had to allow artists to move in different directions while suspended from their upper sections. This required careful attention to their bases, counterweights and structural behaviour.

A separate motorised quick-release system was also required for a precisely timed stage reveal. All elements needed to be delivered early enough for rehearsals and produced within the ceremony’s fixed timeframe.

Strict site-access and health requirements applied throughout delivery. Crew members were required to complete venue inductions and undergo regular COVID-19 testing.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic designed and fabricated six giant kinetic flower sculptures in different forms. Hydraulic systems were integrated with the petals to create controlled blooming movement, including twisting, spiralling and synchronised sequences.

Fairy lights, fibre optics and battery-powered LED systems were incorporated into the flowers to produce changing colours and illuminated effects. Wireless functionality allowed the movement and lighting to operate without visible connections interfering with the performance.

Additional flower props were fabricated with spring mechanisms, enabling dancers to open and close them manually during the ceremony.

Six-metre-high scenic poles were constructed with circular bases, integrated LED decoration and counterweights. These structures allowed performers positioned at the top to swing and travel in multiple directions as part of the choreography.

For the stage reveal, the team developed a motorised quick-release mechanism using a steel-wire system. Its operation was tested and refined to ensure the reveal could be synchronised with the live performance.

A 12-metre-diameter rehearsal stage was also constructed and delivered to the client’s designated location, providing a full-scale environment for daily performer rehearsals.

The scenic elements were produced using timber, metal and fabric, with repeated testing undertaken to verify movement, durability and safe operation before delivery to Expo.

Delivery Highlights

• Six large-scale kinetic flower sculptures
• Hydraulic petal movement
• Twisting and spiralling flower actions
• Synchronised blooming sequences
• Battery-powered scenic elements
• Integrated fibre optics
• Wireless LED illumination
• Fairy-light detailing
• Spring-operated dancer flower props
• Six-metre interactive performance poles
• Circular pole bases and counterweights
• Integrated LED pole decoration
• Motorised quick-release stage mechanism
• Steel-wire stage-reveal system
• 12-metre-diameter rehearsal stage
• Timber, metal and fabric construction
• Factory testing and technical refinement
• Transportation from the Evolution facility to Expo
• Venue induction and COVID-19 testing compliance

Outcome

The kinetic flowers and engineered scenic features became integral components of the Expo 2020 Opening Ceremony’s visual storytelling.

The flowers combined large-scale sculptural forms with controlled movement and illuminated effects, while the performance poles enabled dynamic interaction between the artists and scenery. The motorised quick-release system delivered the planned stage-reveal moment in coordination with the choreography.

The full-scale rehearsal stage allowed the performance team to practise with an environment suited to the production’s requirements before the live ceremony.

Through detailed fabrication, mechanical integration and extensive testing, Evolution Scenic delivered a complex scenic package for one of Dubai’s most significant global ceremonies.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Kinetic flower fabrication, hydraulic mechanisms, illuminated scenic integration, performer props, counterweighted poles, motorised stage-reveal engineering, rehearsal-stage construction, testing and delivery.